Luxury live-aboard INFINITI puts India on global scuba diving map

Luxury live-aboard INFINITI puts India on global scuba diving map
India’s first-ever live-aboard will initially explore dive sites in the pristine waters off the Andamans
Mumbai, August 8, 2013: - Karina Tourism & Adventures today announced the launch of the INFINITI, India’s first scuba diving live-aboard vessel. The 130 feet long INFINITI merges impeccable taste and comfort with the highest design and safety standards. It is expected to give a tremendous fillip to scuba diving in India, by drawing enthusiasts from all over the world. The INFINITI will commence operations with 5-day trips to fresh and exotic diving sites in the Andaman Islands waters.
Live-aboards are very popular worldwide, especially among diving enthusiasts. These vessels offer guests all the modern conveniences, along with the opportunity to explore glorious underwater vistas or just unwind and take in the fresh air and sunshine. And the INFINITI has been built with exactly these objectives in mind. Constructed in Thailand under the close supervision of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) from Italy, the INFINITI boasts world-class systems and equipment, an expert dive crew, and luxuriously appointed interiors, including guest rooms with en-suite bathrooms, a kitchen, a diving platform, an indoor dining room and multiple relaxation areas, including a large sun deck and a lounge.
For the discerning diver, the pristine Andaman Islands are a total delight. The clear, shimmering waters are home to an abundance of marine life, beautiful fringing reefs, steeply sloping walls and coral pinnacles. However, what makes the Andamans truly special is that unlike other destinations, it offers multiple and diverse dive spots: from the surreal volcanic Barren Island or Narcondam Island (known for its pelagics), to the Passage Island, The Sisters, Invisible Bank and much more.
Mr. Sunil Bakshi, founder of Karina Tourism & Adventures said, “I am very excited to introduce the INFINITI, India’s first scuba diving live-aboard open for every individual. A live-aboard is the only practical option for exploring many of the dive sites in the Andaman Islands, which are fast gaining repute around the world as an alternative to established, but crowded, diving destinations such as Thailand or the Red Sea.” On the vessel itself, Bakshi added, “With the INFINITI, we have a live-aboard that offers state-of-the-art facilities and unrivalled comfort. From exploration diving to night dives, wrecks, walls & caves, we’ve got it all. I look forward to hosting the world’s diving enthusiasts on board the INFINITI.”
Scuba diving is a highly popular tourist activity worldwide, with millions of followers. It is estimated to be a $47billion industry, including the revenues from hospitality. In India, which has 22 dive centers dotting its waters, scuba diving is a new, but fast-growing activity. Diving destinations such as the Andaman Islands, Goa and the Lakshadweep Islands are garnering increasing interest from tourists, both domestic and international. Over the next few years, India can emerge as a major hub
for diving as additional infrastructure is built to keep up with the demand. Live-aboards such as the INFINITI would be a critical component of that infrastructure.
About INFINITI Live-aboard
The INFINITI is a high end, world class live-aboard with all premium attributes– gorgeous aesthetics, unmatched comfort, uncompromising safety and exacting engineering. Owned by Karina Tourism & Adventures Pvt. Ltd., it is India’s first live-aboard, and one of the finest in Asia. At nearly 130 feet, the INFINITI is huge; however, it is also exclusive. The number of guests sailing on board the INFINITI at any one point of time will be limited, so as to keep the experience special and intimate. Scuba diving enthusiasts will find the INFINITI a once-in-a-lifetime experience, as it takes them to exotic underwater kingdoms resplendent with beauty and life.
For more information, you can also visit: www.INFINITILiveaboard.com or follow us on www.facebook.com/INFINITIliveaboard and twitter: @InfinitiDiving
About Karina Tourism & Adventures Pvt. Ltd.
Karina Tourism & Adventures Pvt. Ltd. is a Mumbai based company with a mission to offer interesting and innovative opportunities in India’s travel & tourism sector. The company aims to open new ways to explore all that India has to offer to domestic as well as international tourists.
While India has a lot to offer to travellers, domestic & international, there has not been enough fresh thinking and creative initiatives to really tap into the country’s potential. Indians are going abroad for “active” holidays and even the international tourists are choosing destinations such as Thailand over India. Karina Tourism & Adventures aims to bridge that gap by introducing innovative initiatives in active holidays such as diving, surfing and more.


Profile – INFINITI Live-aboard
The INFINITI is India’s first live-aboard – a pioneering initiative in the tourism industry. Live-aboards are very popular worldwide in countries that have strong sea-tourism sectors such as Maldives, Thailand, Caribben Islands, Red Sea, Indonesia, etc. A live-aboard is a sea-going vessel that is equipped to provide comfortable accommodation in guest cabins, dining and leisure facilities as it travels around the island areas to visit interesting spots, usually for scuba diving.
Live-aboards can range from basic to luxurious. The INFINITI is a brand-new, high end live-aboard that was constructed in Thailand in 2013 specifically for the purpose of live-aboard diving in India’s remote, and relatively unexplored, Andaman Islands or Lakshdweep islands. Certified by RINA for unrestricted navigation, the INFINITI is equipped with state-of-the-art systems for complete safety and comfort in all weather conditions. This means that it can comfortably access places where everyday boats cannot reach.
The INFINITI is a stunning combination of all the great things one associates with the live-aboard experience – gorgeous aesthetics, unmatched comfort, uncompromising safety and exacting engineering. Owned by Karina Tourism & Adventures Pvt. Ltd., it is India’s first live-aboard, and one of the finest in Asia. At nearly 130 feet long, the INFINITI is huge; however, it is also exclusive. The number of guests sailing on board the INFINITI at any one point of time will be limited, so as to keep the experience special and intimate. Scuba diving enthusiasts will find the INFINITI a once-in-a-lifetime experience, as it takes them to exotic underwater kingdoms resplendent with beauty and life.
From bow to stern, the INFINITI personifies luxury. The fully air-conditioned vessel houses eight cabins, four on the main deck, and two each on the upper and lower decks. Each cabin is spacious, furnished and beautifully appointed with all modern conveniences, including en-suite bathrooms and showers. There are also multiple relaxation areas on board, including a saloon lounge with a library, games and DVDs, and a large sundeck. A multi-cuisine kitchen prepares delicious and nutritious meals for indoor and outdoor dining, and for sundeck barbeques.
For scuba diving enthusiasts, the INFINITI is a floating paradise. From exploration dives to night dives, wreck dives, wall dives, and cave dives, guests can have the time of their lives exploring panoramic underwater landscapes in multiple spots off the Andamans. The INFINITI is well-equipped for diving adventures in every way, with a large dive platform, Bauer compressors for clean, pure air, two 5-metre RIBs (tenders), a fresh water tank for photographers, all top of the line equipment, and an expert dive crew. Every care has been taken to maximise the convenience and safety of the INFINITI’s guests. The INFINITI will also conduct PADI courses to teach and certify those who wish to learn diving.
The INFINITI is the brainchild of Sunil Bakshi, a former competitive swimmer and passionate diver. Having dived in locations around the world, Sunil was convinced that India offers similar – if not better – potential for scuba diving. He commissioned a top shipbuilding firm in Thailand to build the INFINITI with painstaking care and attention to detail. Eighteen months later, the INFINITI sailed into Indian waters and has become India’s first (and only) diving live-aboard.
The INFINITI is one of the earliest efforts towards building better diving and sea tourism infrastructure in India. There is a huge potential market waiting to be tapped, and the INFINITI will draw in both domestic and international diving enthusiasts towards the sheer magic of diving peacefully & exclusively in pristine island waters from the comfort of a live-aboard.


Profile – Karina Tourism & Adventures Pvt. Ltd.
Karina Tourism & Adventures Pvt. Ltd. is a Mumbai based company with a mission to offer interesting and innovative opportunities in India’s travel & tourism sector. The company aims to open new ways to explore all that India has to offer to domestic as well as international tourists.
Karina has launched its first ground-breaking initiative in the sea-tourism sector by introducing India’s first scuba diving live-aboard the INFINITI. This year, the INFINITI will be in the Andaman Islands and attract tourists who are interested in scuba diving at world class destinations such as Barren Island or explorers interested to visit the very remote Narcondam island – the closest that India has to the famed Galapagos islands. The INFINITI is a unique way to promote tourism in a green, environment friendly manner that does not hassle the local populations.
While India has a lot to offer to travelers, domestic & international, there has not been enough fresh thinking and creative initiatives to really tap into the country’s potential. Indians are going abroad for “active” holidays and even the international tourists are choosing destinations such as Thailand over India. Karina Tourism & Adventures aims to bridge that gap by introducing innovative initiatives in active holidays such as diving, surfing and more.
Karina Tourism & Adventures is founded by Mr Sunil Bakshi, an entrepreneur with a business management expertise of over 18 years in India, middle-east and the United States; and Ms Vismaya Firodia Bakshi with a management experience of 15 years in India and the United States. The other promoter in the company is Padmashri Mr Arun Firodia, a well known industrialist and chairman of the Kinetic Group of Industries, Pune.


Executive profile
Sunil Bakshi
Founder & Director, Karina Tourism & Adventures Pvt. Ltd.
Infiniti Live Aboard “I want to put Andaman Islands on the world’s scuba diving map”
“You’ve got to find what you love” These words of Steve Jobs inspired Sunil Bakshi to step out of the comfort zone of a well-established family business and put his efforts & skills towards launching a pioneering scuba diving live-aboard in India’s Andaman Islands.
Scuba diving, the underwater world has been a big passion of Sunil’s since he first discovered it in 1998. Sunil has always been adventurous and sports oriented: he was a competitive swimmer who swam for St Xavier’s college and a state level water-polo player who represented Mumbai. He tried diving for the first time in Goa on a lark, and fell in love with it at first try! He followed it up by doing an advanced certification at Kadmat Island in Lakshadweep and then over the next few years, travelled to several international diving destinations such as Mexico, Mauritius, Maldives, Kenya, Thailand, etc.
A few years ago a Thai live-aboard came to the Andaman Islands for a brief visit and Sunil jumped at the chance to be on it to explore the diving at the Andaman. During those blissful seven days, he decided that he will launch a world-class live-aboard with the Indian Tiranga flag flying on it, so that divers from all over the world can come to India and learn the incredible diversity and beauty of our islands and our country. It is his passion to put Andaman Islands on the world’s scuba diving map as a unique, premier diving destination.
Using his engineering expertise and entrepreneurial drive, Sunil camped out in Thailand for 18 months to custom design & built the beautiful, RINA certified Infiniti. His goal was to make for India a boat so comfortable, luxurious and well equipped that it would set a new benchmark in live-aboards worldwide. The Infiniti is arguably the finest live-aboard in the world today in terms of size, specification, amenities and overall engineering standards. The Infiniti will do regular, weekly journeys to exotic destinations such as the active volcano Barren Island, islands in the Mahatma Gandhi Marine Park, etc and offer volcanic diving, cave diving, wall diving, wreck diving, and more. For those who would like to get introduced to diving, the Infiniti will
offer PADI courses on board.
Future plans for Karina Tourism & Adventures include adding more live-aboards to make a fleet and operate in Andaman as well as Lakshadweep islands, plus a possible expansion to international destinations such as Sri Lanka.
Sunil’s background – Sunil has been working as the Managing Director of Baxcounsel Inspection Bureau, a premier engineering consultancy in India and middle-east. He has an engineering degree from Lafayette University in the US.